Which section makes it an offence to use threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour intending to cause harassment, alarm, or distress?

• A. S2 Public Order Act 1986
• B. S4 Public Order Act 1986
• C. S1 Public Order Act 1986
• D. S5 Public Order Act 1986

Answer: (B)

The key idea here is the difference between a nuisance-only offence and one that requires intent. Under the Public Order Act 1986, there are offences involving threatening, abusive or insulting language or behaviour, but they are distinguished by whether the person acted with the intention to cause harassment, alarm or distress, or whether their conduct was simply likely to have that effect.

The section that punishes using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour with the explicit intention to cause harassment, alarm or distress is the one that requires intent. This is the correct choice because the question specifies an intention to cause that effect. In contrast, another section covers the same kind of language or behaviour but without requiring a deliberate intention; it punishes conduct that is likely to cause harassment, alarm or distress regardless of intent. The other options refer to different public-order offences entirely, such as riot or violent disorder, which are not about this specific mental element.